2006 New Zealand National Championships - Retrospective

Apologies for it being a bit late this year, but it would have been wrong not to have offered our opinion on what was a quite amazing Nationals in Dunedin.

Brass band contesting is essentially all the same all the world round. For the first time since 2002, Woolston Brass took the National title back home with them to Christchurch, but they did so amid some considerable degree of controversy.

Golden handshake: David Gallaher bows out with the silverware he wanted

The 126th National Championships took place in the Southern city of Dunedin, a place that offers a warm welcome for its population, if not always from its weather. Given that it owes much of its early development to the influx of Scots that came to New Zealand in the early part of the 19th century, in 2006 it offered some typical highland weather too. That also meant that quite a few players and bands had problems getting to the contest on time, with many a story of cancelled flights and lost luggage. Still, when they did get there, Dunedin proved to be excellent hosts.

The main A Grade contest proved to be full of unexpected twists and turns.

The three legged contest asks competing bands to deliver commanding performances in a trio of disciplines – Sacred item, set work and own choice. Aggregate marks from all three decide the winners, and it was this that perhaps caused the controversy this year as many felt that it was the disproportionate difference in marking for the Sacred item that essentially decided the destination of the title.

On the face of it that may appear to be true, but scratch beneath the surface and it is more to do with a question of consistency. The New Zealand Championships are very much like the Europeans in that the winners are invariably the most consistent band rather than the best band that wins. The European title has been won on at least three occasions when a band hasn't won an individual section of the contest. That was really the essence of Woolston's win here.

The Sacred item saw Woolston produce a fine sounding, if somewhat prosaic rendition of ‘Lo, He comes with Clouds descending', which adjudicator Kenneth Young awarded 98 points. It was a very high score indeed, but then again, it was a very good performance of an interesting arrangement.

Behind them came Dalewool under Nigel Weeks who produced a passionate reading of ‘I'll Walk with God' to be awarded 97 points and third place went to Kew Band directed by Mark Ford with ‘Hymn for Diana', which gained them 96 points.

There was no real argument about the top three positions or scoring for that matter, but the surprise came with Gunnadah under Jason Katsikaris who although suffering insecurities in both solo and ensemble lines with their selection of ‘Crimond' could feel more than a touch unlucky to come home in fifth place with 90 points. It deserved better, in terms of points perhaps, but not in placing.

The set work for this year was Philip Sparke's somewhat neglected ‘Between the Moon and Mexico', which was initially composed for the UK National Championships in 1998, but has only occasionally surfaced since. A bit like a total eclipse it is a piece that promises much, but invariably disappoints though as it seems an amalgam of ideas that never quite realises its potential.

Here it was given a number of fine performances by the leading bands, and although it did its task of separating out the best from the rest, it never quite captured the imagination of either the players, MDs or audience.

Gunnedah deservedly took first place with a vibrant and exciting rendition that brought out the colourful writing from the score (plus the start was very much in tune). Dalewool meanwhile pushed them the closest with a broader more musical reading from Nigel Weeks and his band that may have just lacked the total security of their rivals (there was some intonation problems at times) but nonetheless had so much to offer.  

Woolston meanwhile suffered a few noticeable clips and errors in the ensemble line, but it was once again the overall sound, especially of the bass end that left the greatest impression and the direction of David Gallaher which laid out the score in intelligent no nonsense fashion.  Where both Gunnedah and Dalewool upped the tempos at times to generate a touch more drive and sense of purpose, Woolston relied on attention to detail, even if it did mean a touch less vibrancy.

Woolston on the way to victory - Dave G directs the eventual winners
 
Others also made a good fist of it too, with both Marlborough and Kew delivering fine accounts, although behind them it became less impressive with too many performances blighted with a high quota of individual and ensemble insecurities.

It left the contest on something of knife-edge as the bands made final preparations for their own choice selections.

Gunnedah opted for ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth', a piece that has started to be reappraised in the UK after it was used at the Regional Championships. It is without doubt a brilliant audience pleaser, yet for all its clever effects it is all smoke and mirrors. Gunnedah though produced a performance right out of the David Copperfield magician's handbook with excitement and atmosphere by the bucketful and a percussion section that enhanced the whole musical picture. There were some individual insecurity in places, but some wonderful soprano, flugel and horn playing in particular added to a fine musical flow engineered by Jason Katsikaris made this a performance hard to beat.

Woolston however pushed the boat out somewhat with their own choice selection of ‘Extreme Makeover' a piece that is fast becoming something of a instant classic since it was first used at the Europeans in 2005. The opening quartet just had a couple of problems, but once this was overcome it blossomed into a superb performance full of nuance and style. The quieter work still had its moments when not everything was 100% but it all ended in full throttle style. Not a winner, but not far off it.

Dalewool meanwhile perhaps opted for the wrong piece with Paganini Variations, which although still a fine work has perhaps now been blunted by time. It wasn't Dalewool at their best either and although it was an immensely stylish performance by band and MD, it never quite suggested that it was going to be enough to beat their rivals. So it proved and they came in fourth, crucially, two points behind Woolston.

Third place was taken by Kew under Mark Ford, who also opted for the bottle blowing ‘Extreme Makeover' and who were rewarded for their efforts after producing a very energetic and exciting performance. It was a touch scrappy in places, but nonetheless there was plenty to admire, especially with some terrific bottle playing which showed the audience just how integral it was to the making the piece work.  

The standard after these bands did vary again, but there was notable efforts from all the bands with some interesting selections. Canterbury Foundation produced a decent effort on ‘English Heritage' that was notable for some excellent solo cornet work, whilst North Shore Brass delivered a solid performance on a brave selection of ‘Tallis Variations', complete with excellent quiet ending.

Ascot Park Invergargill very nearly mastered ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth' but perhaps just needed more variance in dynamics and tempo, whilst former Brighouse euphonium, Steve Miles led St. Kilda through an uneven performance of ‘Blitz'.

John Lewis, back from his musical missionary work in the UK with Brighouse and Rastrick justifiably won the Elgar Clayton Memorial Trophy as the outstanding soloist on the set work, and his playing was a feature of St Kilda's performance all weekend. 

Marlborough District Brass chose ‘The Promised Land' and it was just a bit too much for them technically, although musically it had its moments and benefited from some wonderful soprano cornet work, whilst Brass Wanganui delivered a rather error strewn ‘Essence of Time' that needed a bit more musical feeling and shape. 

With the playing over the audience (and the adjudicator) were left to make up their minds to whom they thought may have won the title. Most, it must be said, thought that the overall excitement and vibrancy of Gunnedah would enable them to take the title back to Australia, whilst others felt that both Dalewool and Woolston could prevail.

In the end the adjudicator Kenneth Young opted for the more traditional approach, and broader more deeply founded sound of Woolston, which was most clearly heard on the Sacred work. They did have their moments of insecurity on both the set work and own choice, but overall their attention to dynamic and tempo detail allied to that bass led well balanced pyramid of tone gave them the narrowest of edges.    

It also gave MD David Gallaher the best possible send off after a decade in charge of the band. In his time at the helm he has won the New Zealand Championship on five occasions as well as leading the band to the British Open and the National Band of New Zealand to the World Championships. He has been an exceptionally fine musician and a very talented MD. He will be missed by both the band and Championship contesting for sure.

The 2006 New Zealand Nationals may have had that touch of controversy about them, but in the end they gave us a contest to remember.

Elsewhere the B Grade saw victory go to Addington Brass conducted by Ian Wilson, whose performances of ‘In Perfect Peace' and ‘Coventry Variations' by Bram Tovey gave them a four point winning margin over Castle Trust Hamilton Brass in second place and with joint third place, three points further back going to Port of Napier Brass Band and Trust Porirua City Brass.

The C Grade also saw a close run contest with Tauranga City Silver under Grant Langdon taking first prize, two points clear of Smith Locksmiths Manukau City Brass and with Auckland City Brass a little further back in third.

The Youth Grade Contest meanwhile saw victory go to Pelorus Trust Wellington Youth Brass conducted by Aaron Lloydd, whilst the D Grade band events prize was taken by Roxburgh Pioneer Generation Brass directed by Alastair Monteath.

As usual at the Nationals, the marching on the morning of the contest was a great spectacle and Woolston made it a double in the A Grade beating off the challenges of Canterbury and Ascot Park.  There were also wins in the other grades for Castle Trust in B Grade, Tauranga City Silver in C Grade and Pelorus Trust Wellington Youth Brass in D Grade.

The individual events saw an amazingly high standard once more, with the premier award of Open Champion of Champions, going to Kevin Hickman the talented principal cornet of Woolston Brass, whose performance of ‘Quatre Variations' beat off the challenges of fellow Woolston player Roanna Cooper on percussion and reigning champion Mason Elliot on flugel from Auckland Brass.

Winning smiles: Kevin and Sara Hickman celebrate their good fortune

Elsewhere the Junior Champion was declared as Jennifer Magoulas from Kew whilst the Dunedin Ladies Brass Band Trophy, awarded to the woman gaining highest point in the main solo events was jointly shared by both Kristy Rowe (who also won the Pat Cole Medal) of Gunnedah and Jennifer Magoulas of Kew. 

Individual awards saw Riki McDonnell win the Open Euphonium class, David Chaulk, a former double Open Champion win the trombone section, Adam Arnold take the Eb tuba section and Mark Fitzpatrick take the keenly contested soprano category. 

The tenor horn title went to Steve Ridler from Brisbane Excelsior, whilst the Open Amatuer cornet title was won by Anthony Smith from Woolston. The bass trombone title saw Russell Boyle beat off the rest of his field, whilst the cornet title, perhaps the most keenly contested solo event of the weekend was won in fine style by Kevin Hickman.

The baritone honours went to Kristy Rowe, flugel to Mason Elliot and the BB Tuba went once more to the incomparable Philip Johnston.   The percussion honours were taken by Roanna Cooper, whilst the individual slow melody award was won by John Lewis. 

There were plenty of other winners throughout the weekend too, from old veterans to juniors, duets and ensembles.

All in all Dunedin may have been cold and blustery, but it offered a warm and welcoming contest weekend that was enjoyed by everyone. Woolston Brass and David Gallaher perhaps enjoyed it the most, returning back to their famous bandroom near Jade Stadium in Christchurch with a whole trophy cabinet full of individual and ensemble awards to go with the Scenic Circles Hotels Band of the Year prize won in fine style from St. Kilda on the Sunday as well as the biggest prize of all – the National Trophy.

David Gallaher can enjoy his retirement (although we don't think it will be permanent) knowing he bowed out in the best possible way.